🔗 Share this article

Opening Notes

The author is arriving soon to guide you through today's sprint race (2pm GMT) and qualifying (6pm).

Current Events

Starting Lap Period

The formation lap has begun.

Track Information

There are 19 laps around the lengthiest track in Formula One, David Croft points out.

Countdown

The final countdown is underway.

Racer Positions

An advantage in Max Verstappen's advantage: his teammate Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of him by one place. It's improbable to challenge Red Bull's main man.

Media Conversations

Sky's internal discussion now: Gary Neville is at the Mercedes team.

Karun Chandhok is looking forward to 2026, interviewing Adrian Newey about his promotion to the team team principal.

Starting Positions

There are only 16 cars on the grid. It was another poor grid-setting session for Lewis Hamilton: following his result of 20th and last in the previous race, resulting in an eighth position in the grand prix, he did not manage to make it out of the first qualifying segment once more on the previous day. The team have consequently adjusted to his setup and so he begins from the starting area.

The team's Stroll and the Alpine duo of Gasly and Colapinto are all starting from the same position.

Racer Statements

"We'll use the experience for tomorrow," says Isack Hadjar, starting eleventh. There will be a lot of that.

Constructors' Championship

The focus isn't solely on the individual championship: McLaren have run away with the team championship but the team, with a 40-point lead over Red Bull, are aiming to secure the runner-up position during this event. George Russell can help them achieve that from the front row, and Kimi Antonelli will start just behind Verstappen.

Past Performance

Piastri was victorious then – as he managed the previous season, too. McLaren's Australian is attempting a third consecutive win.

Short Race Importance

Alright, approximately twenty minutes remaining until the short race gets under way. Unless something goes wrong, it's greatest value is as a preview of future events, instead of highly important in its itself, with only eight points awarded to the victor. However, the runner-up spot in this race was sufficient for Verstappen to become champion in a prior season.

The driver claimed the championship after Pérez crashes out of Qatar GP sprint race.